Best Shipping Apps for eCommerce: 2024 Guide

With over 2,000 Shopify shipping apps available on this popular sales channel alone, finding the right shipping app can take precious time for any growing online store. Finding the perfect balance of affordability, features, and ease of use can be crucial to streamlining your operations and staying ahead of the competition.

This article compares the cheapest and most effective shipping apps available. From local delivery to international shipments, find the cheapest shipping rates for your online business today!

Benefits of Shipping Apps

While reducing shipping costs undoubtedly holds immense value, shipping apps unlock a wide range of advantages that go beyond cutting costs. Let's explore how these tools can help your eCommerce store grow:

1. Access to the Best Shipping Rates:

Securing discounted rates on every shipment, regardless of carrier or destination can be key to sustainable growth. Shipping apps achieve this by:

• Negotiating with major carriers: They leverage their larger volume and established relationships to negotiate competitive rates on your behalf, often significantly lower than what individual sellers could obtain
• Providing real-time rate comparisons: Compare pricing options from various carriers (USPS, DHL, FedEx, etc.) instantly based on package weight, dimensions, and destination. This allows you to choose the most cost-effective option for each shipment, maximizing your savings

2. Automated Creation of Shipping Labels:

Say goodbye to the time-consuming and error-prone process of manually creating shipping labels. Shipping apps can:

• Automatically generate labels: in just a few clicks generate shipping labels, saving you countless hours
• Eliminate manual entry errors: that can lead to costly surcharges and delays
• Integrate seamlessly: with your sales channel to generate labels automatically with order information, streamlining your workflow further

3. Reduced Shipping Costs:

The combination of accessing the best rates and automating tasks translates to significant cost reduction in your shipping operations. Shipping apps help you:

• Discounted rates: Secure the best shipping options and cheapest prices on each shipment, saving money directly and impacting your bottom line. Allowing online sellers to offer free shipping
• Optimize packaging: Recommend appropriate packaging sizes and materials to minimize dimensional weight and reduce shipping costs further
• Minimize errors: Eliminate manual entry errors that can lead to unexpected charges and unnecessary expenses

4. Compare Shipping Carriers:

Never settle for the default carrier option offered by your eCommerce platform. Shipping apps allow you to:

• Compare rates from multiple carriers side-by-side in real-time, ensuring you get the best deal for each shipment
• Filter and compare based on your specific needs: Consider factors like price, estimated delivery time, tracking capabilities, and available services when selecting the most suitable carrier for each package
• Gain insights into carrier performance: Track historical data on different carriers to identify reliable options with consistent delivery times and service quality

5. Improved Customer Experience:

With customer expectations higher than ever, the right shipping app can help your store stay ahead of the competition:

• Offer transparent shipping options: Provide customers with clear and upfront information about shipping costs and estimated delivery times at checkout. This builds trust, offers customers more control, and reduces cart abandonment
• Real-time order tracking: Allow your customers to track their packages in real-time, eliminating inquiries about delivery status and enhancing their overall experience
• Returns management: Simplify the returns process for your customers, allowing them to easily initiate and manage returns directly through your online store. This fosters customer loyalty and encourages repeat business

By harnessing these features, shipping apps become powerful tools for maximizing cost savings and streamlining your shipping operations. By leveraging discounted rates, automation, and informed carrier selection, you can unlock new levels of efficiency while significantly reducing your shipping costs.

This allows you to reinvest your savings into other areas of your business and boost your overall profitability.

Best Shipping Apps: 2024 Guide

Navigating the complexities of shipping costs can be daunting for any eCommerce store. Fortunately, a wide range of shipping apps exist to streamline operations, unlock cost savings, and help you compete with larger businesses. Let's explore seven popular shipping apps for online sellers:

• Discounted shipping rates: Negotiate competitive rates with major carriers, often significantly lower than what individual sellers could obtain.
• Automated label creation: Eliminate manual shipping processes and reduce errors by automatically generating shipping labels and packing slips with a few clicks.
• Carrier comparison: Compare shipping rates from various providers (USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc.) in real-time to choose the most cost-effective option for each shipment.
• Insights and analytics: Gain valuable data on shipping costs, carrier performance, and customer behavior to make informed decisions.

While focusing solely on the cheapest app may not offer the best results, considering your specific needs, budget, and shipping volume is crucial. Let's delve into seven popular shipping apps for online sellers:

1. Easyship:

All-in-one shipping solution with competitive domestic and international rates. Plus key features like print multiple labels, free starter plan, and real time shipping rates at checkout.

Pros:

• Competitive international rates: Excels in international shipping with discounted rates and simplified customs clearance
• Extensive features: Offers advanced functionalities like inventory management, warehousing solutions, customizable shipping rules and branded tracking pages
• Scalability: Designed to grow with your business, offering flexible pricing plans for high-volume shipping needs
• Pre-negotiated Shipping Rates: Save up to 91% on over 550+ courier services worldwide
• Developer-friendly API: Easyship’s shipping API integration provides access to a suite of powerful shipping and logistics capabilities all within your existing infrastructure

Cons:

• Learning curve: The extensive feature set might require a slightly steeper learning curve compared to simpler apps

2. Pirate Ship:

Enjoy unbeatable USPS rates, a user-friendly interface, and transparent pricing, but with limited carrier options and features.

Pros:

• Unbeatable USPS rates: Known for exceptional pricing, especially for heavier packages shipped through USPS
• User-friendly interface: Offers a simple and intuitive interface that is easy to learn and use
• Focus on transparency: Emphasizes transparency by displaying all-inclusive rates with no hidden fees
• Pre-negotiated Shipping Rates: Save up to 89% on two domestic couriers

Cons:

• Limited carrier options: Primarily focuses on USPS shipping, with limited options for other major carriers
• Limited features: While offering essential functionalities, it lacks advanced features like branded tracking or integration with certain platforms

3. Shopify Shipping:

Benefit from seamless Shopify integration, discounted rates, and a user-friendly interface. However, it lacks advanced features and doesn’t offer order fulfillment on multiple channels.

Pros:

• Seamless integration with Shopify: Built specifically for Shopify stores, its a native integration to print shipping labels within your existing platform
• Discounted rates: Shopify negotiates competitive rates with major carriers, potentially leading to cost savings for Shopify merchants who buy shipping labels directly within the Shopify shipping app
• Simple and intuitive interface: Designed with ease of use in mind, offering a user-friendly interface for beginners
• Pre-negotiated Shipping Rates Save up to 88.5% on domestic orders and up to 76% off international shipments with an advanced plan

Cons:

• Limited features: Similar to Pirate Ship, it might not offer advanced functionalities like international shipping support or branded tracking
• Limited flexibility: Being tied to the Shopify ecosystem limits its compatibility with other eCommerce platforms

4. Shippit:

Focus on cost savings with features like automated negotiation and reporting, but consider the subscription model and limited integrations.

Pros:

• Focus on cost savings: Prioritizes cost reduction through features like carrier routing optimization and automated shipment consolidation
• Automated negotiation: Negotiates rates with carriers on your behalf, potentially securing lower rates than individual merchants
• Advanced reporting: Provides comprehensive reports and analytics to track shipping costs, identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions
• Cheap Shipping Rates: Up to 12% off shipping rates with the LITE plan

Cons:

• Pricing structure: The subscription-based model with potential minimum fees might be more suitable for high-volume shippers
• Limited platform integrations: While offering integrations with popular platforms, it might have fewer options compared to some competitors

5. ShipEngine:

Gain access to a wide range of carriers, advanced features, and a developer-friendly API, but be prepared for a complex pricing structure and learning curve.

Pros:

• Wide range of carrier options: Offers a vast selection of carriers, including international options, providing flexibility for diverse shipping needs
• Advanced features: Provides functionalities like multi-warehouse shipping, address validation, and branded tracking
• Developer-friendly API: Offers APIs for developers to integrate ShipEngine seamlessly into their eCommerce platform
• Pre-negotiated Shipping Rates: Up to 78% off 100+ carriers with an Advanced plan

Cons:

• Pricing complexity: Similar to Easyship, the pricing structure might require careful consideration due to its variations based on features and volume
• Learning curve: The extensive feature set might require a slightly steeper learning curve compared to simpler apps

6. ShipStation:

Explore the free plan for basic functionalities, multi-carrier shipping, and automation, but be aware of limited features in the free tier and international support.

Pros:

• Free plan available: Offers a free plan with basic functionalities for low-volume shippers.
• Multi-carrier shipping: Allows shipping through various carriers, providing options for different needs and budget considerations.
• Automated rules: Enables users to automate tasks based on specific criteria, further streamlining the shipping process.
• Pre-negotiated Shipping Rates: Save up to 89% on a wide range of domestic and international carriers

Cons:

• Limited features in the free plan: The free plan offers limited functionalities, and premium features require a paid subscription.
• Limited international shipping support: While offering international support, options for some countries might be limited compared to competitors like Easyship.

7. Stamps.com:

Leverage specialized USPS services and discounts, seamless platform integrations, and discounted postage, but remember the limited carrier options and software download requirement.

Pros:

• USPS-centric focus: Provides specialized services and discounts for USPS shipments, making it suitable for businesses primarily using USPS.
• Integration with popular platforms: Integrates seamlessly with various eCommerce platforms, including Shopify and WooCommerce.
• Discounted postage: Negotiates discounted postage rates with USPS, potentially offering cost savings for high-volume USPS users
• Pre-negotiated Shipping Rates: Save up to 82% on a limited range of domestic and international carriers

Cons:

• Limited carrier options: Primarily focuses on USPS shipping, with limited options for other major carriers
• Software download required: Requires downloading and installing software, which might be inconvenient for some users

Comparison Table of Cheapest Shipping Apps (2024):

Which Shipping App is the Cheapest?

All the shipping apps analyzed offer some level of discounted shipping rates, with the percentage and range of discounts varying:

• Easyship: Offers the highest potential savings (up to 91%) on a wide range of domestic and international carriers
• Pirate Ship: Provides significant discounts (up to 89%) but only for two specific domestic carriers
• Shopify Shipping: Discounts are tiered based on the plan, with the highest tier offering up to 88.5% on domestic and 76% on international shipments
• Shippit: Offers a modest discount (up to 12%) on shipping rates with their basic plan
• ShipEngine: Discounts depend on the plan, with the highest tier offering up to 78% off on over 100 carriers
• ShipStation: Offers competitive discounts (up to 89%) on a wide range of domestic and international carriers
• Stamps.com: Discounts are limited (up to 82%) and apply to a specific range of domestic and international carriers

Choosing the Right App:

These apps don’t just generate shipping labels, offering features like:

• Discounted shipping rates: Negotiate competitive rates with major carriers, often significantly lower than what individual sellers could obtain.
• Automated label creation: Eliminate manual shipping processes and reduce errors by automatically generating shipping labels and packing slips with a few clicks.
• Carrier comparison: Compare shipping rates from various providers (USPS, UPS, FedEx, etc.) in real-time to choose the most cost-effective option for each shipment.
• Insights and analytics: Gain valuable data on shipping costs, carrier performance, and customer behavior to make informed decisions.

While focusing solely on the cheapest app may not offer the best results, considering your specific needs, budget, and shipping volume is crucial. With an array of options available, selecting the ideal app requires careful consideration of your specific needs and priorities. Here are some key factors to consider:

• Shipping volume: If you are a high-volume shipper, consider apps like Shippit or ShipEngine that offer advanced features and might be more cost-effective in the long run
• Budget: Explore the pricing structures of each app and compare them against your budget. Free plans or flat-rate options might be suitable for low-volume shippers, while high-volume businesses might benefit from tiered subscription plans
• Carrier needs: If you primarily ship domestically or internationally, prioritize apps offering a wide range of carrier options and competitive rates for your preferred carriers
• Desired features: Consider the functionalities most crucial for your business, such as automated label creation, customs documentation, advanced reporting, or international shipping capabilities

By carefully evaluating your needs and comparing the features and pricing of these top shipping apps, you can select the perfect solution to optimize your shipping operations, reduce costs, and empower your SMB eCommerce business to thrive.

Remember, the cheapest app isn't always the best; prioritize features and value over mere cost to make an informed decision that empowers your business growth.

Easyship emerges as the top choice for its combination of competitive international rates, extensive features, and scalability, allowing it to grow with your business.

However, the ideal app ultimately depends on your specific needs and priorities. Consider factors like your shipping volume, budget, preferred carriers, and desired features when making your decision.

Find the Cheapest Way to Send a Package with Easyship

Easyship is your one-stop shop for efficient and cost-effective shipping solutions. With our extensive network of over 250 couriers, we can negotiate discounted shipping rates, potentially saving you up to 91% on your shipping costs.

Some of our major discounts include the following:

Easyship goes beyond just saving you money. We offer a range of user-friendly tools designed to simplify your shipping process and enhance your customer experience:

• Comparison Tool: Compare rates and services from various carriers to find the perfect option for each shipment.
• Insurance: Protect your profits with insurance coverage up to $10,000.
• Tracking: Keep your customers informed with customizable tracking emails and automated alerts
• Shipping Rate Calculator: Get instant quotes with our easy-to-use shipping rate calculator

Easyship empowers you to streamline your shipping operations, reduce costs, and focus on what matters most - growing your business. Ready to unlock affordable and efficient shipping solutions? Get started with Easyship for FREE today!